Rees wants to get one over O'Leary
Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:09
Welsh scrumhalf Richie Rees is excited about his personal battle with Ireland's No. 9 Tomas O'Leary when their two countries clash in the Six Nations on Saturday.
Rees has played O'Leary on two previous occasions when they represented their countries at under 21 level, with both halfbacks coming out on top once.
The 24-year-old Welshman will win his fourth cap on Saturday and know he needs to keep producing good performances with Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel both eager to get the Wales No.9 jersey back.
"I have played against Tomas O’Leary in age-grade rugby," Rees told the South Wales Echo.
"In that year both Wales and Ireland won a game. Hopefully we can make it a deciding victory.
"I am looking forward to the battle. Everyone wants to get one over on their opposite number and, as a scrumhalf, you are always in the mix."
Wales have had a disappointing Six Nations so far with a poor first half performance in each of their opening three matches. They have staged fight backs in each of their games, but left themselves too much to do against England and France, while a dramatic turn around against Scotland gave them their only win in the competition.
"We have worked a lot on the start with Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley," said Rees.
"We have talked about keeping ourselves under wraps in the opening quarter.
"But we know we have the players to cut loose with the likes of Shane Williams, James Hook and Jamie Roberts.
"It might be a case of reining ourselves in before setting the platform for victory."
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